By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

Ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 Iran has relentlessly strove to foster unity amongst Muslims following the different jurisprudential schools in the face of the feverish plots of the enemies of Islam – especially the Americans, the British, and the Zionists – to try to divide the Ummah.
The annual Islamic Unity Week and the gathering of scholars of various Muslim denominations on a single platform in various parts of Iran and in several world countries, with speeches emphasizing the benefits of solidarity and the dangers of disunity, is among the vivid examples in this regard.
The Islamic Unity Week spans the two dates of the month of Rabi al-Awwal (12th and 17th) believed to be the blessed birthday of the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).
This is ample proof that the Islamic Republic of Iran views both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims as brothers treading the same path with only minor differences in secondary issues, since there is no difference between them regarding the fundamentals of faith, unlike the followers of other creeds, such as the Christians, who are poles apart in their belief in the nature of Jesus, his mother the Virgin Mary (peace upon them), and even the various versions of the gospels in circulation among them.
Unfortunately, dirty politics have prevailed over religious injunctions in several Muslims states, or to be more precise in the policies of the heads of these states who are neither the representatives of the people nor have any legitimate claim to rule, other than being under the protection of the archenemy of Islam and Muslims, that is, the United States of America.
Some of these states have of late not just adopted a negative posture towards Islamic unity but have resorted to treachery by siding with the enemies of Islam and against fellow Muslims.
One of the most vivid examples in this regard was the incident earlier this month at Islam’s Third Holiest Site, the al-Aqsa Mosque in the Israeli occupied Muslim city of Bayt al-Moqaddas, where Bahraini diplomats actively supported the Zionist armed forces against the oppressed Palestinian Muslims.
Yesterday, in his memorable speech to the Iranian nation which was televised to the world, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution made it clear that the unity of Muslims is a “definite duty and a Qur’anic order”, pointing out that the decision of certain regional regimes to normalize ties with Israel is a “great sin and mistake”.
He advised these misled rulers to “return from this path which is against Islamic unity by making amends.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said the reason for his repeated emphasis on the issue of unity is the big schism which exists among religions, with the enemies are striving seriously to widen it.
He pointed out: “You see that the issue of being a Sunni or a Shi’a has entered the American political literature for several years, while they are against the quintessence of Islam and hostile to it.”
In this regard, he took note of the recent terrorist blasts martyring worshippers praying in mosques in Afghanistan, carried out and admitted by the macaberily murderous outfit Daesh.
The Leader posed the question: “Who is Daesh?” He provided the answer himself by pointing out that “Daesh is the same outfit that the Americans — the same Democratic group of the United States — explicitly said ‘we created’, even though they are not saying it anymore and deny it.”
He called for vigilance on the part of the Muslim Ummah worldwide, urging them to refrain from falling prey to the American/British/Zionist propaganda of Shi’a-Sunni divisions, saying “Islamic unity will create synergy and strengthen Muslims and their hand in interacting with non-Islamic countries.”
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the main yardstick for the unity of Muslims is the issue of Palestine, calling for more seriousness on efforts to restore the rights of the Palestinians, for the sake of Islamic unity.
We earnestly hope the heads of Muslim states who have betrayed the Palestinians will reflect on their misdeeds, repent, and make amendments, in order to return to Islamic unity by strengthening the ranks of the Ummah against the archenemies of Islam and Muslims.